West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-08-05
GREATNESS IN YOUTH.

OuAIlcS JdiIltS I04 Wuo IL ia heAaicAAe a.
TO-
The Great Cromwell left the University Of
Cambridge at IS.
John Bright was never at any school day
after he was Is years old.
Gladstone was in parliament at 2, and at
"a was lord Of the treasury.
Lord Bacon graduated at Cambridge when
16, and was called to the bar at 81.
Peel was in parliament at 81, and Palmer
ston was lord Of the admiralty at %.
John Hampton, after graduating at Ok
ford, was student at law in the Inner Tenn
pie at 10.
Gustavus Adolphus ascended the throne at
16; before he was "a he was one OF the great
rulers Of Europe.
Judge Story was at Harvard at Is, In con-
gress at %, and judge Of the supfemc court
Of the United States at 50.
Conde conducted memorable campaign at
II. and at % he, and Turenne also, were OK
the most illustrious men OF their time.
Only one civilian out Of the presidents Of
this country gained his first election after he
was 60, and that one was James Buchanan.
Webster was In college at Is, gave earnest
of his great future before he was 25, and at 80
was the peer Of the ablest man in congress.
William q. Seward commenced the prac-
tice of law at 81, at 81 was president Of q
state convention, and at 81 governor Of New
York.
Washington was distinguished colonel In
the army at %, early in public affairs, COM
mander Of the forces at 4S and president
at 50.
Maurice, of Saxony, died at 80, conceded
to have been one Of the profoundest statesmen
and one Of the ablest generals which Christ
endom had seen.
Italy. At 80 he was not only one OF the most
illustrious generals of all time, but one Of tho
great law givers of the world. At 40 he saw
Waterloo.
The great Leo K was pope at 80; having
finished his academic training he took the
Office of cardinal at 1S-only 10 months
younger than was Charles James Fox when
he entered parliament.
William Pitt entered the university at IA,
was chancellor Of the exchequer at %, prime
minister at "a and 80 continued for twenty
years, and when 35 was the most powerful
uncrowned head in Europe.
From the earliest years Of Queen Elizabeth
to the latest Of Queen Victoria, England hos
had scarce an able statesman who did not
leave the university by the time he was 20,
and many Of them left at an earlier age.
"a "a A..
and entered the great world early-as did
John Bright-and commenced his political
career by writing book at II, in which he
predicted that no would be prime minister.
Hamilton was in Kings college at 16; when
IL, he made a notable address on public
affairs to the citizens Of New York; at 90 he
was intrusted with a most important mission
to Gen. Gates, was in congress at 25 and
secretary Of the treasury at 80.
John Quincy Adams, at tho age Of IL, was
secretary to Mr.. Dana, then minister at the
Russian court; at 80 he was himself minister
TO Prussia; OF o-a~ was minister TO Russia;
at As he was minister to England; at SO he
was secretary Of state, and president at 81.
Jonathan Edwards acquired early renown
as the greatest metaphysician in America and
as unsurpassed by any one in Europe. He
commenced the reading Of Latin when 6 years
old. At 10 he wrote q remarkable paper
upon immortality. At the age Of 13 he
entered Yale college, where he graduated
four years later.
Gen. Grant was elected president at 49,
But when very young man, in the Mexican
war, he so distinguished himself at the battle
Of Molino del Rey that Gen. Scott named
him for promotion on the field, and at the
storming Of Chapultepec his courage and
ability caused him TO be specially commended
by Gen. Worth, and for these young acts OF
skill and valor he was made captain in the
regular army. He was but 80 when he
gained his victory at Fort Donelson, and
only Al when he took Vicksburg.